BOOK REVIEW

GROUP 3
SAURABH KUMAR SINGH

UTKARSH SHARMA

SONY RAGHVENDRAM

RACHIT AGRAWAL

MH. SHAKIB

SUYASH PRADHAN

RAHUL CHAUHAN

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 BIBLIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

Title Building Structures: From Concepts to Design

Volume 2 of Building Structures
Author Malcolm Millais
Edition illustrated
Publisher Taylor & Francis, 2005
ISBN 0415336236, 9780415336239
Length 423 pages
Subjects Architecture
›
Buildings
›
Public, Commercial & Industrial
Architecture / Buildings / Public, Commercial & Industrial
Architecture / Professional Practice
Architecture / Study & Teaching

BOOK DESCRIPTION

This is a one-stop book for knowing everything important about building structures.
Self-contained and with no prerequisites needed, it is suitable for both general readers
and building professionals.

• follow the history of structural understanding;

• grasp the concepts of structural behaviour via step-by-step explanations;

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 • apply these concepts to a simple building;
• see how these concepts apply to real buildings, from Durham Cathedral to the Bank of China;
• use these concepts to define the design process;
• see how these concepts inform design choices;
• understand how engineering and architecture have diverged, and what effect this had;
• learn to do simple but relevant numerical calculations for actual structures;
• understand when dynamics are important;
• follow the development of progressive collapse prevention;
• enter the world of modern structural theory;
• see how computers can be used for structural analysis;
• learn how to organize and design a successful project.

With more than 500 pages and over 1100 user-friendly diagrams, this book is a must
for anyone who would like to understand the fascinating world of structures.

BOOK CONTENT
Preface to the Third Edition.
Introduction. {SONY RAGHVENDRAM
1. Loads and load paths.
2. Internal forces. {RAHUL CHAUHAN
3. Structural element behaviour.
4. Advanced concepts of stress. {MH SHAKIB
5. Structural materials.
6. Safe structures and failure. {SAURABH KUMAR SINGH
7. Geometry and structural behaviour.
8. Below-ground structures
9. Behaviour of a simple building. {UTKARSH SHARMA
10. Real structures.
11. Structural conception. {SUYASH PRADHAN
12. Structures and built form.
13. Structures in Existing Buildings. {RACHIT AGRAWAL
14. A simple approach to calculations.
15. Dynamic Behaviour.
16. Progressive collapse and robustness.
17. The mathematical basis.
18. The basis for computer calculations.
19. The successful structural project.

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AUTHOR(S)
Biography
Malcolm Millais is a structural engineer.

REVIEWS

‘I give this book my highest commendation’ The Structural Engineer

‘How I wish that when presented with the theory of structures Millais’ book had been
available’ Professor Derek Sugden in the Architect’s Journal

‘This book has changed my thinking on the subject and made me a better
engineer’ Amazon reviewer

‘If architects could be fluent in the basic language of this book, then the design of
structures for tomorrow’s architecture would benefit immensely’ Ian Duncan in
Structures and Buildings.

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 BOOK REVIEW (BUILDING STRUCTURE -FORMS
CONCEPT TO DESIGN)
Many famous large-scale buildings have suffered structural problems such as the St. Sophia in
Istanbul, St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome and St. Paul’s cathedral in London.

There is no evidence for the construction process of the past buildings. The scientists like Plato,
Aristotle & Archimedes provided some theories.

Leonardo da Vinci has also been contributed in the understanding of structure. Leonardo da Vinci
made many experiments & tests on the structure, many of them are unpublished. However, it is
unclear whether these tests provided him with any useful quantitive information. His work was
unpublished; his observations being recorded in his numerous notebooks, so other engineers were
unable to profit from or to extend his work.

Then two remarkable men Simon Stevin (1548–1620) and his better-known contemporary Galileo
Galilei (1564– 1642) both investigated, amongst many other things, aspects of structural behaviour.

Stevin correctly stated the triangle of forces (see Chapter 12) and Galileo tried to discover what
happened inside a beam.

The idea of elasticity, or springiness, of engineering materials, essential to the understanding of

structural behaviour was stated independently by Robert Hooke (1635–1703) and Edme Mariotte
(1620–1684).

Towards the end of the 18th century, there existed a mathematical theory that described, and could be
used to predict, the engineering behaviour of a simple beam.

Navier formulated a general mathematical theory of elasticity which was the foundation of the
modern approach.

The modern approach to structural design-

The modern approach to the design of structures is to check any proposed design by making
numerical calculations. These calculations are based on a mathematical theory that describes the
physical behaviour of the system. Using known values such as the dimensions, the loads and the
properties of the material to be used, a specific calculation can be made. The numerical result of this
calculation indicates whether the proposed design will perform satisfactorily or not.

Loads and load paths

A structure’s main function is to transfer loads. The sources of loads can be divided into natural,
useful and accidental loads. Natural loads occur due to the existence of the structure in the world;
useful loads are ones that occur from the purpose of the structure; and accidental loads occur from the
misuse of the structure.

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Natural load - snow, wind, gravity, water pressure, earthquake, self-load, ground moment.

Useful load- Unlike natural loads, which cannot be avoided and so must be tolerated, useful loads are
ones that are welcomed. These loads happen because the building and hence the structure have been
constructed for a useful purpose.

E.g.- With the plank bridge, it has been constructed for people to cross the stream. If it couldn’t do
this it would be of no use.

Accidental load- the load that comes upon the structure accidently or through any other media
accidently which is unavoidable.

Load path-The sequence of structural elements that join a specific load to the foundations is called
the load path.

Every time there are loads on structures there must be reactions (vertical, horizontal and moment)
and these reactions must balance the loads.

In other words:

• Sum of vertical loads=Sum of vertical reactions

• Sum of horizontal loads=Sum of horizontal reactions

• Moments due to loads=Moments due to reactions

These three statements must be true for all structures and the understanding of these statements
unlocks the door to an understanding of structures.

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 BOOK REVIEW (INTERNAL FORCE AND
STRUCTURAL ELEMENT)
So far, loads, reactions and load paths have been identified for structures. But how does the
structure transfer the load to the reaction? And what happens to the structure when it transfers
loads? The structure transfers loads by forces that are ‘in the structure’ and these forces cause
stresses in the structural material. The structure also deforms under the effect of the loads, and
the size of the deformation depends on the stiffness of the structure. The structure transfers loads
by forces that are ‘in the structure’ and these forces cause stresses in the structural material are called
internal force.
There are following internal force in structure-
1. Axial force
2. Bending moments and shear forces
3. A simple plane frames
4. Slabs
5. The structural action of load paths
6. Twisting force
It is the prediction of the structural behaviour of the load path that is the major skill required for
successful structural engineering design. When structures are proposed, the structural action of each
load path must be predicted as part of the proposal.
In this chapter the behaviour of the structure that is part of a load path is examined in detail. The
understanding that is obtained from this examination makes it clear how parts of structures resist
the internal forces. It also gives guidance on the best shape or structural form for any particular
part of the load path. The choice of overall structural form for any particular structure is one of
the basic tasks of the structural designer but before the behaviour of whole structural forms can
be understood, the behaviour of very simple structures must be clear. To do this it is helpful to
think of structures being assemblies of elements
• Structural elements
• Concepts of stress and stress distribution
• Bending stresses
• Shear stresses
• Torsional stresses
• Curved elements
• Combined stresses
• Axial stresses
This has very important consequences for structures made from structural materials such as masonry
or mass concrete that cannot carry significant tensile stresses. For structures made from these
materials, axial forces must be ‘kept’ within the central part of the cross-section or the structure will
crack or collapse. This is why brick chimneys and walls sometimes blow over in high winds.

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BOOK REVIEW (ADVANCED CONCEPTS OF STRESS)

In this book author have shared his views and described the topic, Principal stresses in one-dimension
elements in chapter 4 (Advance concept of stresses) where he stated many examples with applying
different conditions like, in which case the object is going through the compressive or tensile stresses,
depending on how the element is cut from the structure, the type and the sizes of the stresses depend
on the angle at which it is cut.

As we proceed further, author talks about the principal stresses in two-dimension elements by stating
different example with proper diagrams as an example Principal stresses and strut and tie model.

Then he talks about the Role of Shear stresses in beam where he gives his views that how the
horizontal shear stress varies along the beam but it also varies within the depth of the beam. He also
talks about how I section is used in beam in horizontal shear stress. As we move further, author also
mentioned the effect of beam in cross section.

Next topic which he covers in the chapter is biaxial bending. In this topic he stated that how the
neutral axis goes through the centre of area, its position rotate dependence, and reason for cross-
section which have axes of bending also knows as principal axes. He also talks about 3 important
section properties of cross-sectional shapes.

In the end of the chapter, he has given his views on the composite elements and pre- stressing, he has
also covered Torsion and wrapping of open sections.

After completing chapter 4 when we proceed further there comes chapter 5 by name (Structural
material) in which he talks about types, there behaviour and many others stuffs about structural
material, then he talks about the Load/deflection axes with graphs and its elasticity and its plasticity
too.

Actual Structural material comes as next topic to get covered in the chapter in which he demonstrated
the topic by taking examples of bridges from our surrounding. And hoe soil work as a structural
material in building construction.

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 BOOK REVIEW (SAFE STRUCTURES AND FAILURE)

ABSTRACT
A major aim of structural design is to provide structures that are strong enough, that is, they
can carry the loads imposed on them by their use without failure. This may seem obvious
but there are many difficulties associated with this simple requirement, and unless they are
resolved, the possibility of failure remains.
AIM
The chapter deal with the structural design and stability of the structure to carry load without
failure.
INTRODUCTION
The chapter discusses about the basic concept of safety through graphical interpretation and
calculative formulas. The factor of the safety is also taking into consideration to design a
stable structure.
The chapter incorporates the following topic: -
• Basic concepts of safety
• Types of structural collapse
i) The structural material is brittle.
ii) The structure loses overall stability
• Plastic behaviour
• Axial instability
• Relationship of structural theories

SUMMARY

The concept associated with this chapter is to resolve the possibility of failure in any structure
and gives a brief abouts its stability by various method of structural design like elastic, collapse
and limit design. It also includes various theories to stabilizes a reasonable co-relation with the
behaviour of real structure and simple enough to be implemented as a part of a design process.

REFERENCES

1. JE Gordon – Structures or why things don’t fall down – Penguin 1978 p 328

2. RM Francis – Quebec Bridge – Conf. Canada. Soc. Civil Eng. Vol III, 1981 – p 655-677

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 GEOMMETRY AND STRUCTURAL BEHAVIOUR

ABSTRACT
A structure may be considered to be an assembly of elements and these elements can be one, two
or three dimensional. Depending on whether the loading is lateral or axial, each element has a
particular type of structural behaviour (see Chapter 3). This behaviour may also be affected by
the slenderness of parts of the structures that are axially loaded, as this can lead to instability (see
Section 6.4).
AIM

To determine the structural geometry and structural behaviour of virtue of its shape, type of loading
and slenderness.

INTRODUCTION

The chapter conceptualizes the functional behaviour of any structure and load distribution to determine
stability by taking into consideration the structural frame work and various forces acting on the
structure.

The chapter incorporates the following topic: -

• Geometry of structure
• The shape of the structure
• The type of loading on the structure
• The slenderness of the structure
• The behaviour of structural system
• Trusses and frames
• Cables and arches
• Three-dimensional structures
• Prevention of axials instability
SUMMARY

The chapter analysis the geometry and through various types structure like beam, hanging cable,
sloping strut and analysis its behavioral aspects. The forces acting on the structure in various direction
are analyses by figural interpretation and calculative approach to determine the state of the stability of
the structure. It also incorporates three-dimensional form like a shell or a vault and bending moment
and shear forces are also determined. Lastly it contains concept of axial in stability so to overall
bending moment due to various type of loads.

REFERENCES

G COOK – Portrait of Durham Cathedral - Phoenix House

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BOOK REVIEW (BEHAVIOUR OF A SIMPLE BUILDING)

The chapter is all about six basic concepts for a single cubic space. Like

o function of a structure is to transfer loads,

o load path is the structure for each load,
o load path is the structure for each load
o Collapse initiated by slender structures must be avoided

and other similar concepts with the help of an example of a basic shape of the building, assumed to be
rectangular with a simple pitched roof.

The example is discussed with respect to every aspect from

• Basic structural and loading
• The roof and walls
• The portal frames
• The wind bracing system
• The floor structures
• The foundations

The example of a structure for a single space building illustrates how different load
paths are needed for different loadings and how concepts of axial forces, shear forces and bending
moments are used to understand the behaviour of each load path. The type of
stress in each part of the structure depends on whether it is part of a beam-like or truss like structure.

How any building structure behaves can be found by using the conceptual analysis used
for this simple example. It also shows how a structural designer has to choose the structure for
every part of the structural system. For instance, the chosen purlins were steel
and beam-like, but truss-like steel or beam-like timber purlins could have been chosen.
It is these choices and their consequential effect on the structural behaviour of the whole
structural system that is the essence of structural design.

Apart from well written content and info, it also has lots of conceptual illustrations for better
understanding and which is really helpful, as there is always a room for improvement so is with this
book also, book has some terms and examples without any reference. Therefore, it makes the reader
having google in one hand. Otherwise, book is nicely written, well composed and with proper selection,
sequence and coherence of topics.

That’s all. Thank you!!

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 BOOK REVIEW (STRUCTURAL CONCEPTION)

The only role of the structure of a crane or bridge is to carry the load, whereas the structure of a building
fulfils other roles. A building is essentially a space that is protected from the natural environment and
is constructed for a specific use. The structure of the building is part of the building construction and
plays the role of giving the construction sufficient strength to withstand the loads to which the whole
building is subjected. These loads are caused by natural phenomena such as wind and gravity and by
the use of the building.

Building structures provide the strength and stiffness for the building enclosure and this means that
there must be load paths to transfer vertical and horizontal loads. Each part has to support all the loads
from above but each type of space suggests different types and spacing of vertical structure. The idea
of conceptual load paths is to establish a path of structure through a building for every load case, but
conceptual load paths give no information about the actual geometry of the load paths. The geometry
of the load path will determine the type of structural behaviour of the load path, which is beam, frame,
truss or funicular behaviour.

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Structures and their built form

The structural concept is usually thought of as applying to the primary structure, if it can be clearly
identified as a separate entity, and this primary structure is considered to be within the domain of the
structural engineer. Secondary structures, partition walls and window frames for example, are usually
within the domain of the architect and are rarely subjected to calculation procedures. Before the arrival
of industrialisation, the only available structural materials were timber and various types of stone or
brick. As timber is perishable and combustible, its architectural contribution was mainly in vernacular
buildings. The main restriction on built form imposed by the available materials before industrialisation
was the dimensional limitation of spanning structures. Those of timber, in the absence of efficient
jointing methods, were limited to the available lengths of natural timber. Stone spanning structures, in
the form of arches or vaults, were also limited due to the requirement of resisting abutment forces.

In 1971 an open competition was held for a new centre for the visual arts to be built on the Plateau
Beau Bourg in Paris. The winners were the unknown architects Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers and Gian
Franco Franchini.

The structure of the winning scheme also had another rather surprising feature in that it was a
mechanism under horizontal loads.

The solutions referred to were either joining the trusses with moment connections, which would have
reduced the mid-span moment but generated high forces in the connecting pieces, or the trusses could
be simply supported mid-way between the two columns thus increasing the span. Neither solution was
practical.

Both the ideas of the floors moving and the trusses being unprotected against fire had to be abandoned.

This shows how stability was attained for horizontal forces applied in the longitudinal direction. The
internal steel and concrete floor plate acted as a stiff diaphragm

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 BOOK REVIEW (A SIMPLE APPROACH TO
CALCULATIONS)

ABSTRACT

In this chapter the concepts of structural behaviour are used to give a simple approach to calculations
that check the fundamental points of any proposed structural system. No more than the usual arithmetic
operations and simple algebra are used. The ability to make basic calculations gives ‘the designer’ the
self-sufficiency not only to conceive structural schemes but also to arrive rapidly at sizes for the
principal elements.

Clearly these simple calculations will be re-done in detail for the final scheme but what is intended
here is to show how, what are sometimes called ‘back of an envelope’ calculations, are made. Of
course, envelopes should not really be used, as all calculations are extremely important project
information and should be numbered and filed in a proper manner. To gain full benefit from this chapter
all the exercises should be done.

AIM: The major objective OF THIS CHAPTER IS TO DETERMINE THROUGH NUMERICAL

CALCULATION

THE CHAPTER DEALS WITH THE FOLLOWING TOPIC LIKE-

● FUNCTION OF THE STRUCTURE

● STRUCTURE HAVE OVERALL STABILITY

● THE FORCES IN THE STRUCTURAL ELEMENT

Inferences: Through the help of various mathematical calculation and statistical interpretation the
chapter analysis the load paths, structure, stability

The mathematical basis

ABSTRACT

For a complete picture of structural behaviour, as this book wants to give, the use of mathematics for
the understanding of structures has to be included. Whilst research into the applications of mathematics
for the description of structural behaviour continues, the basis was laid at the beginning of the 19th
century which led to three things:

• methods of carrying out predictive calculations became available

• the separation of structural concepts from architectural concepts began

• the excessive interest in theory by engineers reduced their design capacity

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 This is not to say that there is anything wrong, as such, with the use of mathematics as a tool for
predicting structural behaviour, in fact it is essential. The ever-increasing use of mathematics as a tool
is part of technological advancement. However, it should be generally available and not restricted to a
small group. The reasons for this are buried deep in societies’ view of mathematics in general.

● Analysis: It defines: Axially loaded element

● Building structure behaviour

● From concept to Design

Inferences: As mathematics is a demanding subject there is a predominant idea that only a chosen few
are capable of using mathematics for anything; nothing could be less true. In mathematics, as with
structural behaviour, it is the concepts that have to be grasped, after which calculations become
arithmetic.

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